Propeller



June 14 1927. 1,632,292

I O. A. HONKANEN 4 PROPELLER Filed June a, 1926 fitter/26y fl D Patented June 14, 1927.

our En- STATES ONE'YQ A. HONKANEN, BOBTLAND, OBJEGON.

PROPELLER.

Application filed June 3,

This invention relates to improvements in propellers. and more particularly to propellers of a typefof construction especially designed for the purpose of propellingboats, but. which also may be used successfully as propellers for aircraft.

' Itis the principal objectof the invention to provide-a propeller of the screw, or spiral, type of construction which is more eflicient than the ordinary type of propellers. in that it requires less power tooperate, provides more etlecth e driving surface and is not required to be revolved at such speed as to lose effectiveness due to churning the water in which it operates.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a propeller construction in which provision is lnade for the escape from between the propeller blades of dead water which, ordinarily, impairs the elficiency of a propeller.

More specifically stated, the object of the present invention resides in the provision of a propeller comprising a single plate of metal that is provided centrally and at its opposite ends, in its axial line, with hub bearings for mounting on a propeller shaft, and is formed in a half-turn spiral about the shaft. It is provided in its central body portion with openings for the escape of dead water which, otherwise, would retard action and decrease the etliciency of the propeller.

In accomplishing these and various other objects of the invention, I have provided the improved details of construction, the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a propeller embodied by the present invention.

Figure 2 is an end view of the same.

Figure 3 is a top view of device as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 4L- is a cross section of the propeller.

Figure 5 is an end view of an alternative construction.

Referring more in detail to the drawings 1 designates, in its entirety, a propeller embodied by the present invention, which,

in its preferred form of construction, consists of a. cast plate of metal that is formed about its longitudinal axis in a spiral turn. In the present construction, as illustrated, I have shown the plate as forming a half-turn spiral, but it is not intended that it be lim ited only to this extent it may be desir 1926, Serial No. 11,23,456.

able to make it more or less according to the particular use for which any certain propelleir is to beput. ",At its opposite ends, and at the. center of the plate, in axialalinement, are hubs, or bearings, 2 for receiving the propeller driving shaft 3 which is keyed therein, as shown at l in Figure 2, and be tween the end bearings and the central hearing, the central body portions of'the plate are cut away providing elongated'openings 5 for the escape of what may be termed dead water from between the propeller blade, which ordinarily would act' to'retard the propelling action and lessen the effectiveness of the device. The surface area of the two halves of the propeller at opposite sides of the shaft 3, and also the area of the openings at opposite sides of the shaft, are equal so as to provide a perfectly balanced construction and to insure against vibration in operation.

The propelling surfaces of the blades, preferably, are concave in cross section. as shown in Figure t, so as to procure a better grip, or driving hold, on the water in which it operates.

The propeller shown comprises two opposite side portions, or blades, 6 and 7 joined at their ends by the end portions 8 and 9 which are equipped with end bearings 2 for receiving the propeller shaft and the central connecting portion 10 which is equipped with the central bearing.

However, it is'possible and may be desirable to provide propellers of this general character with any number of blades which would be determined by the particular use, or purpose, to which the propeller is to be put. Figure 4: shows a propeller having three blades, this type-being preferable in case the device is to be used as a fan or air blower.

Such propellers may be made in various sizes according to the propelling power desired to be obtained therefrom, and also in various proportions which would adapt them for use as propelling means for aircraft, or for fans or blowers of various kinds. For instance: A propeller for use on an airship, or plane, could be greater in di ameter in comparison to its length than the propeller herein illustrated.

Propellers of the above type have been found, by experiment, as compared to the ordinary types of propellers, to be more effective in. use, to provide more effective pro- ,or effective, to the other side of the propeller.

It is to be understood that various details of construction may be changed to adapt the device to various uses without departing from the spirit of the invention, and for this reason, I do not wish to be limited only to the device as it is herein illustrated.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters-Patent, is:

1. A propeller of the character described comprising a rectangular plate having the parts thereof lying at opposite sides of its longitudinal axis formed in half-turn spirals directly opposite each other, said plate being provided for axial mounting on a propeller shaft and having its body portion cut away to provide openings of equal area at opposite" sides of the axis.

2. A propeller of the character described comprising a rectangular plate having the parts thereof lying at opposite sides of its longitudinal axis formed in halt-turn spirals directly opposite each other, said plate having hubs provided at its ends and centrally between its ends for receiving a propeller shaft, and having its central body portion cutaway equally at opposite sides of the axis between the end and center hubs to provide openings tor the discharge of dead water from one side to the other.

Signed at Seattle, .Vashington, this 27th day of May, 1926.

ONEY A. HONKANEN. 

